If you clean your windows yourself, you’re likely to have tried many different options for cleaning, drying and polishing over the years. Everyone has their own methods, especially when it comes to those finishing touches. But which is best for getting a good shine, traditional newspapers or a squeegee? Here are some points to consider…
Newspapers
Newspapers have been used to polish windows and glass for years, and it’s likely that one of your parents or grandparents advised you to use them. They are effective due to their composition. Newspaper is made of dense fibres which don’t get left behind on the glass, unlike most cloths and rags.
It is also more absorbent than paper towels, so you don’t need to use as much to get the window dry. There’s also a matter of the ink. It doesn’t come off on glass, but you’ll need to be careful around the frames. Many newspapers now use soy-based inks, which some believe don’t offer such a shine as oil-based inks, but they are more environmentally friendly so you can recycle the newspaper. Best of all, newspapers are often free, as well as becoming waste materials once they’ve been read. You can give them a second life by using them to clean your windows.
Top tip – wait for the window to dry a little before polishing, then use the newspaper to dry, eliminate streaks and polish. You’ll use less newspaper and the job will be quicker.
Squeegee
You won’t catch a professional window cleaner using newspapers. Most will swear by a top quality squeegee, which collects and wipes away moisture for a streak free finish.
Top tip – replacing the blade of your squeegee each time you clean the windows reduces the chances of marks and streaks.
The rise of the steam window cleaner
Newspapers and squeegees now have competition from a third option, the steam window cleaner. Some of these work very well, while other cheaper models are useless. They can save you time and effort, but unless you have a lot of windows to clean – not everyone considers them worth the money.
